How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Liquid propane is normally utilized to operate industrial lift trucks or forklifts. There is the alternative to have cylinders delivered to your facility, or to have refueling capabilities on site. Operators who are working with forklifts which utilize propane must be properly trained to deal with extremely combustible substances.
1 Before refueling, you should wear personal protective equipment. Thick leather gloves must be worn to prevent the hands from touching liquid propane. The liquid is very cold and could cause severe burns. Other protective equipment consists of a full face shield and goggles. A fire extinguisher must always be close at hand.
2 Prior to doing something else, you should first shut down the forklift. Make certain there are no open flames within the area and no lit cigarettes. Remove the protective cap on the fill valve and attach the fill line securely to the fill valve. When the fill line is in place, open the bleed valve carefully. A hissing noise is normal when opening the valve, but make sure it is air escaping - not propane.
3 Slowly open the fill valve on the fill line until you are certain there are no leaks around the connection. After that open the valve more and let the propane enter the tank. Check the tank while refueling; when it is full, the bleeder valve would release a spray of white gas. Turn off the fill valve completely first before closing the bleeder valve. Slowly take the fill line out of the tank. A small amount of gas which is escaping during this time is normal. Make sure to screw the protective cap back onto the fill valve. Inspect all the valves to make sure that they are completely closed. Your truck is now refueled and ready to drive.